Of all of Johannesburg’s suburbs leafy Sandhurst has claim to being one of the most exclusive. According to Rupert Finnemore, Pam Golding Properties Hyde Park joint area manager, the grand homes in the area with their large properties are often sold for R40 million and can fetch as much as R60 million.
“A Sandhurst address is a prestigious one and properties in the area are sought after,” he adds. “Sandhurst, which is more than 50 years old, has for long been one of Johannesburg’s most highly regarded suburbs. The area has lost none of its shine over the years and remains home to many of the city’s elite.”
Although it is situated on the very doorstep of Sandton, and townhouses have become a more prevalent feature of the area in recent years, many of the properties in Sandhurst have remained of substantial size with well-established gardens. This has ensured that the area has remained low density and a serene escape from the humdrum of the city.
“Sandhurst, with its attractive tree-lined avenues and secure, stately homes, some of which have superb views, offers the very best in Johannesburg suburban living,” says Finnemore. “This, and the immense status of owning a property in the area have ensured its ongoing popularity. Many of Johannesburg’s wealthier individuals aspire to live in an area such as Sandhurst.”
Many of the residents of Sandhurst appreciate the fact the suburb is so central, being just a few minutes from the Sandton city centre, South Africa’s financial capital, and a shopping and entertainment mecca. It is also within easy reach of major road routes, a Gautrain station and some of the most highly regarded schools in the country including St Stithians Boy’s College, Brescia House Ursaline Convent, Sandton Crawford College, Redhill School, St David’s Marist Inanda and King David Primary School Sandton to name just a few.
In recent years some of the properties within the Sandhurst area have been subdivided and some are now sectional title or cluster properties. According to the latest report on the area from property research company, Lightstone, 56.89 percent of dwellings are sectional title and 34.30 percent are freehold while 8.81 percent are situated in estates. This diversity in property types ensures that there is a wide range of different property options available for those interested in acquiring property in Sandhurst.
Pam Golding Properties Hyde Park joint area manager Jonathan Davies says properties in Sandhurst tend to hold their value well. According to Lightstone, the average price of a freehold home in the area increased from R11 339 million in 2012 to R12 923 million in 2013, while sectional title properties increased in value from an average of R1 820 million in 2012 to R1 863 million in 2013.
It is not often that one of the exclusive homes in the Sandhurst area becomes available for sale. “Once you have lived in Sandhurst it is difficult to get it out of your blood,” explains one resident. So deep is some residents’ attachment to the area that they downscale to one of the cluster or townhouse developments in the area when they reach an age where their children leave home.
One property recently placed on the market for R38 million through Pam Golding Properties offers a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a buyer seeking a secure, luxury home within Sandhurst, says Davies. Designed by award-winning architect Johan Slee, this residence with its striking Palladian feel offers some of the finest views in the Sandton area.
Much in this magnificent home comes in fours; it has four bedrooms, four bathrooms, four reception rooms and four garages. There is approximately 1200 sqm of living and entertainment space perfectly positioned on a 4600 sqm view site.
This is an immaculate residence that is ideal for entertaining guests and friends. It has a family/TV room, home theatre room, balcony, Jacuzzi, gym room and undercover patio. The garden is well established, beautifully manicured and is home to a sparkling feature swimming pool and koi garden. The home is, in Finnemore’s words, “an oasis of tranquillity in the midst of a bustling, dynamic city”.
There are alternatives for those looking for those who are seeking a more ‘lock-up-and-go’ lifestyle within Sandhurst. A classy four-bedroom cluster property with impressive security, which is on the market for R11 million, for example, is also available in the area through Pam Golding Properties.
This 650sqm residence is set on a stand of approximately 857 sqm. It has three reception rooms, four en-suite bedrooms, a guest cloakroom, scullery, pantry, dining room, family/TV room, balcony, undercover patio and an undercover braai area.
Other features of the home include a gas fireplace, ceiling fans and underfloor heating. The compact garden is mature and perfectly maintained and boasts computerised irrigation.
“Convenience, tranquillity and exclusivity — Sandhurst has so much to offer and we expect it to remain one of Johannesburg’s most sought after suburbs into the foreseeable future,” concludes Davies.
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